My mom was widowed in her 50s… she was married at 18, stayed home to raise 4 kids, had no degree, health issues, and was nearly bankrupted with my dad’s medical bills. But she could type… and she got a job as a church secretary. Later got an administrative job in the school system which provided her much needed health insurance. She had to work her way up there too. It was really hard for her but she did it on her own and did not accept help from any of her children.
She supported herself until she passed 20 years later (from ALS)
All blessings to your mom, but you sort of proved my point - she was in deep financial distress due to her partnering with dad for the benefit of your family until her 50s.
This is the fate of many women who are ill used by their husbands. Not all.
I think a judge needs to look at the whole picture. Sometimes no alimony is warranted. Sometimes lifetime is.